Heel plate



Patented Mar. 26, 1935 e 1,995,975 V HEEL PLATE Herman I). Fleschutz,Coudersport, Pa. Application April 2, 1934,-Serial No. 718,732 2 Claims.(o1. 3s e2 This invention relates to a heel plate designed for use as anice creeper to prevent thewearer from slipping upon icy surfaces.

Plates of this .kind hereto-fore employed have been objectionablebecause the ice and snow have packed upon the plates and frozen to themwith the result that the spurs or prongs have been rendered inefiicient.

An object of the present invention is to provide the heel plate with ameans for preventing ice and snow from accumulating thereon so that thespurs or projections are kept clear constantly.

A further object is to provide a heel plate which can be quicklyattached to or removed from the shoe of the wearer.

With the foregoing and other whichwill appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinationsof parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing Figure l is a side elevation of a shoe equipped with theheel plate constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the heel plate. Figure 3 is a bottom planview thereof. Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 2. Figure 5 is aplan view of the blanks from which the metal portions of the heel plateare formed, these blanks being shown assembled. Figure 6 is a section online 66, Figure 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of refer- I ence, 1 designates ametal plate of substantially the front corners thereof the sameconfiguration and area as the bottomof the heel to which itis to be,applied. This plate is formed with angle portions 2 constituting whileadditional angle portions 3 are extended from the plate at the rearportions of the sides and at the back thereof as shown in Figure 5.These angular projecting portions are spaced apart and ears 4 extendfrom the plate between them. I 1

Parallel slots 5 are formed in the plate near the forward portions ofits sides and those portions of the plate between the slots and theadjacent side edges are struck upwardly to form raised straps 6. Thesestraps are adapted to overlie slides '7 which rest flat upon the plateand have longitudinal slots 8. The slots receive set screws 9 which arethreaded into the plate 1 and, when tightened, will bind the slides uponthe plate and hold them against movement. The slides '7 are extendedoutwardly from the plate to form tongues 10. These tongues are adaptedto be bent upwardly at right angles, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Theears 4 are also adapted to be bent upwardly at right angles while theangular projeoting portions 2 and 3 are adapted to be bent downwardly atright angles to form prongs or spurs as shown in Figures 1 and 4. Theplate 1 and the slides '7 are a jacket 11 formed of soft rubber. Thisjacket with a rubber covering. If desired holes 12 may be formed'in thetop of the jacket to give con- 'venient access to the screws 9.

The jacket can be applied in any manner desired. For examplesuperposed'layers of rubber housed within 1 .extends close to the prongs2 and 3 and to the I 3 ears 4 as shown in Figure 3 and is closed at itsobjects in view can be arranged with the, plate 1 and the slides '7between them after which these rubber layers can be vulcanized togetherat their side edges. Furthermore if preferred the bottom layer of rubbercan be vulcanized or afii'xed directly to the I 9 bottom surface ofplate 1. I

When using the heel plate adjustable straps 13 and 14 can be employed.These are extended over tongues 8 and ears 4. These tongues and earswillbear against the side and rear surfacesof the heel 1-1 and when thestraps 13 and 14 are the shoe S and snapped into engagementwith thetightened the heel plate will be held firmly to v the shoe.

By providing the heel plate with a rubber cover-, ing or jacket, snowand ice will not pack upon and freeze to the plate. Instead theprongs'or spurs 2 and 3 will be keptjclear at all times so as to acteificiently to prevent slipping. When it is desired to remove the heelplate, as when entering a house or leaving an icecovered surfacepit ismerely necessary to disengage the strapsfrom the tongues and ears. Snaphooks 15 can be employed for this purpose. z

,By using-adjustable slides 7. it is possible to adjust the tongues 8toward or from each other sofas. to fit snugly against the sides ofheels of different widths.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class describedincluding a plate, a soft rubberjacket thereon, downwardly.

extended prongs on the plate, ears extending up .wardlyi'ronr the platefor engagement with the I p 1 back portion of a heel; slides adiustablyconnected 'to the plate, and means detachably connected to the slidesand ears for holding the plate in position on the bottom o1! a heel; I

2. A device of the class described including a plate,1a soft rubberjacket therefor for preventing snow andficefrom freezing to the plate,down- 1 wardly extending prongs at the edges of the plate and extendingbelowv the jacket, upwardly exthe back portion of a heel, slides mounted:on'hthe plate, upwardly extending tonguesthereon supportedbeyond theplate and jacket, saidslides being adjustable :to position the tonguesagainst ing the slides against movement, and means detachably engagingthe tongues and ears for hold ing the plate detachablytoa heel. I

.5 the respective sides ofa'heeLmeans for fastem

